Convertible dress



P. M. ACKLEY CONVERTIBLE DRESS Aug. 16, 1949.

Filed April 5', 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor PAULA M. AGKLEY zm wi 16 1' F. M. AQKLEY GCNVERTIBLE DRESS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filad April 5, 1947 r m M PAULA M. HCKLEY Patented Aug. 16 1949 UNITED STATES mm orgies I NVERTIB1LE BRES Paula- M, Aekley, Vinelatrdl, N. I Application April 194i, Serial N'll7-'73,9,572' 1 (llaim. (or. ze t-4.);

This invention relate-s generally to Womens Wearing apparel and more particularly to an improved construction of a convertible dress having a readily removable front panel which is interchangeable with anotherpanel to completely change theappearanceof the dress as desired.

Among the principal objects of the present intion is to provid'ea novel arrangement of a conventible dress which comprises, in combination, a basic unit forming the back, shoulders and sleeves of the garment and a front panel quick= detachably secured: to the basic unit to complete the dress, the front panel being interchangeable with another of such different design as to convert the general appearance and style of the dress.

C lther objects and advantages of thepresent invention will appear more fully hereinafter; it being understood that the present invention consists generally in the combination, construction, location and arrangement of the several parts as hereinafter described in detail, as shown in the accompanying drawings and as finally pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawings, which are illustrative of a garment constructed in accordance with and embodying the principles of the present invention:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a dress, the appearance of which is characterized by the use of a detachable front panel of a particular design;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view similar to Figure 1 showing the appearance of the dress converted by the use of a different design of detachable front panel;

Figure 3 is a rear elevational view of the detachable front panel employed to produce the dress of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a front elevational view of the back of the dress which constitutes the basic unit thereof;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken, on the line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 66 of Figure l; and

Figure '7 is a sectional view taken on the line of Figure 3.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, it will be observed that the garment of the present invention consists of a womens dress having a basic back part Ill and an interchangeable front panel part II. As most clearly appears in Figure 4, the basic back part III of the dress comprises in addition to the full body portion of the back of the dress the shoulder porticns ti I i a-nd the marginal sideportifions I Ike-it! which extend vertically the: full length; ofi-the dress from the bottom edge of the skirt M to the shoulder portions: EZ-H-HLZ oi. the dress; The shoulder portions tZ- IZ of the basic unit If] include the sleeve parts I5-1 k5- which may be of the short type shown in the: drawings; or of greater length asmaybe desired, itibeing undeln stood, of course, that said. basic: unit I20 is; faslniO-ned in conventional manner to properly 0.0m form the shape of the garment to the body er the wearer. l

Secured to; and extending along: each. 01 the opposite marginai edges of the basic: back: [ll of the garment. is a course is-0i slide-fastener elements, each course: of said elementsbeing Q secured in position; upon the external; of: the part lad by a line of stitching I1 tolocatev courseof the slide-fastener elemen s substantially in: coincidence with each freefi s tion i e e 8 of the part II] of the garment. As most clearly appears in Figure 4, the courses IB-IB 0f the slide-fastener elements extend substantially the full length of the garment part II], that is, from the bottom edge of its skirt portion I4 upwardly to the neckline I9 of the garments.

As appears most clearly in Figure 3, the front panel part I I of the convertible dress is of a shape and form adapted to be joined to the basic back part ID to complete the dress, it being observed that the opposite side edges 20-20 of this front panel part are shaped in general correspondence with the shape of the fashioned edges I8I8 of the basic back part III. Secured to and extending along each marginal edge of the front panel I I is a course 2| of slide-fastener elements, each course thereof being secured in position upon the inner face of the panel by a line of stitching 22. Preferably, the courses 2I-2I of the slide-fastener elements are spaced somewhat inwardly of the marginal side edges of the panel so as to provide marginal flap portions 23-23 which respectively overlie the vertically extending marginal portions of the back part It when the two parts I0 and II are assembled as shown in Figures 1 and 6, these flap portions 23-23 thus serving to conceal from view the interengaged courses of the slide-fastener elements. It will be understood, of course, that to assemble the two parts I0 and I I to form the complete dress, it is merely necessary to engage the slide-fastener elements extending along opposite sides of the front panel II with those extendin along the corresponding sides of the back part I0.

Figure 2 illustrates the use of a front panel II different from that employed to make up the dress of Figure 1, this front panel I l being of the same general construction as that of the panel ll so that it is interchangeable with the latter. By forming the two panels of different materials or patterns, or by changing the neck lines thereof, as illustrated, dresses of entirely different appearance may be obtained simply by assembling with the basic back part II] one or another of several interchangeable front panels. Thus, by providing two or more front panels of different design and appearance for interchangeable assembly with a single basic back part, an entirely different appearance and style of dress may be obtained as desired, thus obviating the necessity of carrying along two or more complete dresses for such occasions as may require a change in attire.

It will be understood, of course, that the present invention is susceptible of various changes and modifications in the construction and arrangement of its several parts, all without departing from the general principles or real spirit of the present invention and it is accordingly intended to claim the same broadly, as well as specifically, as indicated by the appended claim.

What is claimed as new and useful is:

In a convertible dress of the character described, a basic part having shoulder and waist portions form-fashioned to conform to and fit over the back and shoulders and about the waist of the wearers body, said basic part including a skirt portion depending from the waist portion thereof, the shoulder, waist and skirt portions of said basic part of the dress having opposed marginal edges which extend continuously the full length of the dress from the bottom edge of its skirt portion to the upper edge of its shoulder portion, said edges being so relatively disposed along the opposite frontal sides of the wearer's body, when the dress is worn, as to provide an open space transversely between said edges across the front of the wearers body, said edges being respectively provided with continuous courses of slide-fastener elements, and a front panel fashioned to fit over the front of the wearers body and cover said open space between the marginal edges of said basic part, said panel including waist and skirt portions complemental to the shoulder, waist and skirt portions of said basic part to complete the dress upon securement of said front panel to said basic part, said front panel being provided alon its opposite marginal edges with continuous courses of slide-fastening elements respectively engageable with those of the basic part, the fastening elements on said front panel being spaced inwardly of its marginal edges to provide said panel with marginal flaps which cover and conceal from view the interengaged fastening elements, said front panel being generally of hour-glass shape in perimetral outline and being interchangeable with another front panel of corresponding shape and size but of different appearance and style to convert the appearance of the dress accordingly as the front panel thereof is changed.

PAULA M. ACKLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 383,550 Woolf May 29, 1888 1,896,183 Manson Feb. 7, 1933 1,973,421 Wallace Sept. 11, 1934 2,212,719 Prouty Aug. 27, 1940 2,304,111 Merrick Dec. 8, 1942 

